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Monday, 29 August 2016

Do you know, we can Improve English Fluency by Learning from Mistakes..

One of the best ways to help improve fluency is to speak about subjects you
know well. Speaking about what you know, you'll tend to take more risks as
you've probably picked up related vocabulary along the way due to your interest
in the topic. Even if you don't know all the jargon, you'll
certainly be able to try out some new vocabulary you'll have seen on numerous
occasions. Speaking about something you are "expert" at builds
confidence because you won't have to search for the right terminology. This
boost in confidence can lead to a virtuous cycle: The more I speak, the more
I'm willing to make mistakes, the more my English improves, which leads to a
willingness to speak more, etc.

The Virtuous Cycle

A virtuous cycle is a process through which you steadily improve over time.
Think of improving your English fluency as not going from point A
to point B, but, rather, like a spiral that grows over time as in the graphic.
You'll start off slowly, but you'll expand, you will become more fluent, which
will lead you to want to speak more and so on.

The key to improving fluency is to grow slowly over time and
take time for the process. It doesn't happen over night, so you need to have
the right attitude: I'm going to make mistakes, and I'll learn from them.

This may seem like a simple answer, and it is! However, over the years I've
noticed that students who are willing too make the most mistakes are also the
students who more quickly become fluent in English. Students who are overly
worried about being correct may do very well on grammar
tests, but they often have difficulties speaking English. That's because they
become too self-aware and don't allow themselves to join in the flow of a conversation.

Conversations are a River

Good conversations flow like a river. They go from this topic to that topic,
nothing is forced. If you listen to closely to yourself, or are constantly
thinking "Is this right?", you'll block the flow of the river. It
sounds simplistic, but I've noticed it to be absolutely true. Even if you have
difficulties finding the right words, take your time, find the words and
participate. Don't criticize yourself.
Here's a way to think about improving your fluency through conversation.

Trust
yourself to speak.

Make a
number of mistakes, but continue the conversation.

Listen to
your partner speak on the same subject.

Notice
differences between the vocabulary you've used, and the vocabulary your
partner has used.

Compare
the differences and consider the following questions:

Can you
pick up any new vocabulary?

Were there
any differences in the way your partner used the expressions?

Why were
there differences?

Were they
differences in grammar usage?

If you are
speaking with native speakers, pay special attention to small things like
the preposition used in a phrasal
verb.

Start to
change your own expressions using the knowledge you've gained.

This process takes place naturally, but thinking about thinking about this
process consciously will help you make it part of your English learning
process. Once you've done this, your English will improve much more rapidly.
However, it takes time, so have patience and trust yourself!

I Don't Want to Speak until I'm Perfect OR I'll Make Too Many Mistakes!

Many students who are unsure may feel like they shouldn't speak until
everything's just right. Or, perhaps they feel that they'll make too many
mistakes. For me, there's no such thing as too many mistakes. The more mistakes
you make, the better - if you pay attention.

Attitude is Everything

If you worry about making too many mistakes, you're not paying attention to
improving your English. By taking your attention off your own mistakes, and
comparing your English to your partner's you'll become more relaxed and better
able to speak English.

Putting the Process into Practice

Choose a topic in which you are an expert. Something you really love to do,
a place you enjoy visiting, anything you're interested in. Find a partner, and
talk like the expert you are. It'll build confidence and you can put some of
these ideas to practice because you'll be more relaxed.
So, keep on Speaking Friends!!!